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Wing Mirror
Disassemble/reassembly of your wing mirror

In normal operation, the V8 wing mirror body is operated by the driver manually moving the body until a detent is found that is correct for the drivers viewing position.The failure I suffered was that there was no longer a detent, and the body was free to move through 180 degrees.

As with so many jobs, most of the time was taken in figuring out how to dismantle the mirror without breaking the glass, as spares are virtually non-existent. This guide can be used to help you disassemble the mirror without damaging it. Further problems can then be investigated, like loose fitting, electrical failure or even replacing broken or cracked glass.

disassembly & reassembly

This job will take about 1.5 to 2 hours.

 

You will need the following parts:

 

You will need the following tools:

power drill
5mm drill bit
3mm metric bolt and nut (or equivalent) & spring washer.
set of small spanners
flat file
grease or silicon
flat screwdriver
cross head screwdriver

   

At the front of the mirror is a plastic shroud that is press fitted in place. If you carefully get a medium size flat screwdriver and place through one of the open slots and work round the mirror, you can gently prize this away by levering it back from its aluminium chassis within the mirror. You don't need to lever against any paintwork.

  

Once the shroud is free, it still won't come straight off because of the mirror. But if you are careful, the shroud can be physically spread to lift over the outer edge of the mirror. This is not easy and a bit of trial and error, whilst taking great care not to break the mirror.

Once the shroud is removed, the mirror is located in place by a locking ring. A small lug on the underside of the mirror, when rotated, will release the mirror. No force is required, it will simply lift out. Although still attached by some leads, I just left the mirror dangling on the side of the car, with a towel underneath to protect my paintwork.

  

Now the aluminium chassis I spoke about earlier will be exposed. The wing mirror body is bolted on to this and is removed via three bolts. This will now expose the detent mechanism which is a simple L-shaped lug that sits in a detent on the mirror arm support from the door. This lug had sheared off from its base so I filled flat the remains of the pin that held it in place, drilled with a 5mm drill bit and bolted the lug back in place with a 3mm metric or equivalent bolt and spring washer.

I applied some grease to the lug for lubrication and reinstated the mirror using the above techniques in reverse. Job done!

Verdict

I don't know how much Lotus would charge for a new wing mirror, but this relatively simple operation no doubt saved me a few quid!

This mod was performed by Charlie Morgan on his 1999 V8-SE

If you have any comments, feel free to e-mail me with at admin@lotusespritworld.com


Wing Mirror REVISED
Disassemble/reassembly of your wing mirror

Hi there, I wanted to offer some advise and perhaps a correction to a “How to” section on LEW. The section covers Mirror Assemblies and how to replace the Glass or get access to the actuators that allow the mirror to be moved.

There are two elements to the mirrors. In my experience some of these mirrors vibrate and obscure the reflection almost to make the mirror useless. Increasing the idle speed by pressing on the accelerator helps this condition at idle such as traffic lights etc.

However this is not really practical, and I always thought it was a little embarrassing that these things shake a lot on such a car. This fix will eliminate the vibration if done correctly, and will not cause damage or brakeage of the mirror glass during disassembly or reassembly (as mine did. $75 later and much wiser )… here is the right way !.

First do not use an screwdriver to prize off any plastic surrounding as previously described in LEW. This will create stress marks and will ‘pop off the Tinnermann clips at the rear of the mirror assembly. The clips are concave punched and designed as spring steel push on clips, and are a definite ‘one way fastener’… they go on and are not designed to be “popped off’.

The old described method damages the plastic stems onto which these are pressed during assembly and they will not fit on again ! Avoid doing this at all cost… it is not required.

   

Step 1: Get a small slotted ( flat) screwdriver and carefully place the flat blade against the small vertical tab located approx mid section behind the bottom of the mirror glass. You can just see it if you use a flashlight ( torch in the UK ). Carefully push this clip to the LEFT ( on the left side of the vehicle looking forward ). I have not tried to remove the right hand side yet so you will need to try left first then right., on the opposite side of the vehicle.

  

The back of the mirror has a round assembly with a locking ring to latch the glass assembly to the actuator. This movable clip rotates about 15 degrees around the circumference of this circle and locks the two parts together. Simple.

STEP 2: When rotated, the clip will expose the tabs, such that they can freely be pulled towards you with the glass assembly permanently attached.

  

STEP 3: Simply pull the spade connectors apart to release the heater element wires

You now have full access to the mirror actuator, surround, alloy housing etc etc.

   

To replace … simply reverse the process.

NOTE: To remove the vibration, get a piece of light foam and cut it to approx 2,5” diameter circle at 1/8” thick, and apply it to the center of the mirror glass backing, ( this is usually sticky and the foam stay where you put it nicely.)

     

Reassemble as above. ( in reverse ) and the entire process takes 5 – 10 mins, and you should not brake any glass as I did, trying it the old way.

  

And you will not damage any plastic or paint.

This mod was performed by Jim Graham on his 2002 V8

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